Stephen b



STEPHEN B. BRAGE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HAND-STAM P.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 52,666, dated February 20, 1866.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that l, STEPHEN B. BRAGUE, of 98 East 22d Street, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand-Stamps; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specication, in which- Figure l represents a perspective view ot' a hand-stamp constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the head of the stamp with the stem in section. Fig. 3 is a plan View oi' the band or ring of the same. Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of the stam phead.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The object of this invention is to avoid complicity in the arrangement for the use of the prepared ribbon employed instead otl ink to produce an impression, and to save time in changing the same and in altering the type in the form.

To attain these ends the invention consists in fastening the impression-ribbon in pieces of a suitable size onto the face of the stamp and over the edges of the same by means of a band' or ring, which fits snugly over the head of the stamp outside of the edges of the so-applied ribbon.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and apply my invention, I Will proceed to describe it, having reference to the drawings.

B D represent a frame like that of the stamps commonly used for ordinary canceling` purposes, except that it has an opening, A, in the bed or base plate B for the passage of the stamp-head C. To one end -ot' this bedplate there is cast a branch or arm, D, having a vertical hole or bearing at d for the rod or stem E of the stamp to slide freely np and down in.

The stern E is furnished with a hand-knob, c, and has a spring, F, applied to it to keep the type or stamp-head raised from any surface when not in use, and has also provided in it'a longitudinal slot, f, sliding freely on a pin, g, fitted in the bearing d.

G is the stamp-head, having secured into vtherein by a small thumb-screw, b. The stamp G can be easily removed to change the type.

The prepared ribbon His placed over the.

face of the type in a suitable-sized piece, and a ring or band, J, having an L-slot,j, in its upper edge, is pushed or pressed over the edge of the stamp and overlapping edges of the ribbon, thereby drawing the ribbon tightly over the face of the type. The said ring, after having been sut'h'ciently pushed onto the outside ot the stamp, is fastened by means of the slot j and a small iixed pin, t', in the position shown in Figs. l and 2.'

In a stamp of the size represented a piece of prepared ribbon about the size shown in the diagram, Fig. 5, is used.

Instead of using a slot to go over a pin to fasten the band, one or two small upright branches may be used, said branches beingl sufficiently elastic to spring over a shoulder or into recesses made in the stamp-head, and thus prevent the ring from .coming off. This last-mentioned modification is intended more especially for stamps which have an oval or other outline differing from a circle, as in this case the ring or band cannot be turned around the exterior ofthe stamp.

Y The opening A in the base B allows the stamp to be used in a book, and to stamp very close to the binding by the stamp being struck through the said opening after the base has been set down upon the book; but in stamping a detached single piece of paper, such as a receipt or check, the same may be placed' under the type-face, but over the frame or'base B, when the requiredimpres'sion can be given, and the piece of paper will be pressed through the opening against the surface on which the base rests.

l am aware that there has been a hand-stamp made with a movable bed, but which could not be used without drawing out or lowering the stamp-head to a distance equal to the thickness ofthe bed so removed; but in my construction of a hand-stamp the bed is made permanently-open, and is of such a thickness as to allow the stamping of a single sheet Without injuring; it when required, and the stem and stamp-head are always at the same distance from the hed.

What I claim es my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The attachment of the prepared ribbon directly to the fece of the stamp by means of a bend or other fastening; applied around the stamp, substantially as herein set forth.

'STEPHEN B. BRAGUE. Witnesses J. W. COOMBS, G. W. REED. 

